Airstream Basecamp Sewer Hose Storage Fix

The sewer hose storage tube on the Basecamp is poorly designed. Once it accumulates some road grime, closing the cap properly becomes nearly impossible. The solution is to cut off the old cap receiver and replace it with a better-designed one. However, Airstream doesn't make this process easy. You will need to be patient and likely install a backing plate to complete the repair successfully. Let me show you how it's done.

[@eel133]

This is an unrelated question but I was wondering what block (red/white) you have under the front jack…and if you’re happy with it? I have to park on a slight decline and am always looking for better solutions. Thanks!

[@StreamDreamin]

It’s from Andersen hitches and yes, I’m happy with it. I bought their Ez bag. I think their stuff is fantastic. It comes with a leveling wedge, two chalks, four stabilizer pads, and a stop pad plus the 8” jack block.

[@eel133]

@@StreamDreamin thanks so much! Ps. I really like the style of your videos. The voiceover is clear and descriptive. Very much appreciated!

[@jamesbuttitta]

Why not just use rivnuts?

[@StreamDreamin]

Thanks for the question. It might work, but the belly pan is quite thin, and there's a risk they might get torn out. Airstream did use backing plates, but they weren't secured to the belly pan, so I couldn't reuse them. For me, the decision to add a new and more durable backing plate stemmed from Airstream having used them initially. I'm also concerned that any fastener I use without a backing plate wouldn't withstand the vibration, bouncing, and wind the trailer experiences at speed and off-road.

[@RichardThompson-eb5vr]

@@StreamDreamin Mine is a long answer, butI do not believe rivnuts would work well in this application. They are used all the time in aircraft apllication (I ran an FAA aircraft repair station) but most commonly for fairings and inspection plates whick have most of the force parallel to the aluminum skin. In the sewer hose application the force is primarily perpendicular to the aluminum skin where there is greater risk of tear-out. Probably why Airstream used backing plates, they have been perfecting aluminum bodies for 90 years.